Paul Warne suspects Derby County left-back Callum Elder has sustained a groin injury and acknowledges the defender’s absence is a “blow”.
The Australian was removed in the second half of Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Sheffield United, who took all three points thanks to Gus Hamer’s free kick.
Elder appeared to be in severe pain as he made his way to the dugout, and he will most certainly be taken for a scan to evaluate the severity of the problem.
It comes at a bad moment for the former Leicester City defender, who has been one of the season’s standouts thus far.
And that comes on the heels of David Ozoh’s hamstring injury, which kept him out until after the international break.
After the game, Warne stated: “Callum felt his groin as he was corkscrewed up for the penalty claim in the second half. He signaled the bench, and we attempted to get him off. And, in the pinnacle of sod’s law, they challenge him again, and he simply overstretches.
“I believe, and by asking the player if he is okay and they say no or not, poor gaffer, his look when he replied no suggests to me that he has injured his groin, which is a setback for him and the squad. “He’s been excellent.”
